What To Do If Lightning Strikes Your Car

Being on the road in a car while lightning is flashing all around me is something I don’t think much about when it’s happening, given that I was born and raised in Florida, a state historically known as the Lightning Capital of the World. But, I have always wondered what would happen if lightning were to hit my car while I was driving. How do I stay safe in that situation?

I have grown up hearing that cars are generally a safe place to be during a thunderstorm, and that lightning really can’t hurt you when you’re inside your car. There are a couple exceptions to that rule though:

You don’t want to touch any window glass, metal framework, wiring, or electrical devices attached to your car when your vehicle is struck

Thankfully, those are things I do already anyway. I close my windows during a storm like a second-nature reflex, and I don’t usually rest any part of my body on any metal, glass, or other parts of my car that may conduct an electrical current during a potential lightning strike.

What Happens To Lightning After It Strikes Your Car?

This is what I wanted to know… After all, here I am sitting inside of my sedan begin struck by a rod of electricity carrying up to 1 billion volts (yeah, lightning is fairly hot). Surely my little car and I are no match against that force of Mother Nature. Or are we?

As it turns out, in most cases a lightning bolt will pass right through the car’s metal framework, beyond the tires, and right into the ground.

When lightning hits your car, it may:

Blow out the tire it passed through

Ignite a fuel fire

Damage or destroy electrical wiring

When Being In A Car During A Lightning Storm Isn’t Safe

Not all vehicles are safe to be inside of during a thunderstorm. Take, for example, a convertible. The only shield of protection you really have around you when riding in a typical, hardtop car is the metal body, which takes the brunt of the lightning bolt’s fury and guides the charge right toward the ground. So, when you’re in a convertible, there is no shield of protective metal enveloping you, and the only thing between you and 1 billion volts of lightning is 1/8″ of cloth.

You also aren’t safe in a golf cart since it, too, lacks a shield of metal and glass.

The same applies to motorcycles, bicycles, and most boats – you simply aren’t safe in or on any of those vehicles when lightning strikes because there is nothing to direct the lightning away from you and toward the ground.

Interestingly, most planes are safe to be in during a lightning storm as, like conventional cars, their exterior metal and glass shields the occupants within from the lightning.

How To Tell If A Lightning Storm Is Coming Your Way

Whether you’re inside a vehicle completely enclosed by metal and glass or your outdoors on the beach enjoying a picnic, it’s useful to know how to tell when lightning may soon be heading your way.

Here are some things to watch for:

Cumulus clouds (the soft-looking white clouds that look like puffs of cotton candy) begin to grow taller and darker

Heavy rain, especially fat raindrops, begin to fall

You hear intermittent static on an AM radio; lightning bolts send out an electromagnetic radio wave that interferes with AM radio receivers, therefore an AM radio actually makes a great lightning detector

Tall, pointed metal objects such as lightning rods appear to have a green or blue glow near their tips that may look like fire; this phenomenon is called St. Elmo’s fire

If one or more of these things start happening while you’re outdoors, quickly seek shelter inside a safe automobile or enclosed shelter (bus stop coverings, sheds, and picnic shelters are not safe). Wait until at least 30 minutes after the last thunder clap to emerge from your shelter and return to outdoor activity.

My love for coins and numismatics began when I was 11 years old. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. I'm a member of both the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG). I've also been studying meteorology and watching weather patterns for years. I enjoy sharing little-known facts and fun stuff about coins, weather, travel, health, food, and living green.